diff --git a/kong/init.lua b/kong/init.lua
index 81b5d2c3817c..e8d9a0964cd7 100644
--- a/kong/init.lua
+++ b/kong/init.lua
@@ -892,6 +892,12 @@ function Kong.init_worker()
     return
   end
 
+  if kong.configuration.role == "control_plane" then
+    if kong.clustering then
+      kong.clustering:init_worker()
+    end
+  end
+
   kong.vault.init_worker()
 
   kong.timing = kong_global.init_timing()
diff --git a/spec/02-integration/09-hybrid_mode/01-sync_spec.lua b/spec/02-integration/09-hybrid_mode/01-sync_spec.lua
index a1d2f9b37641..bbb6ff516f65 100644
--- a/spec/02-integration/09-hybrid_mode/01-sync_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/02-integration/09-hybrid_mode/01-sync_spec.lua
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ local KEY_AUTH_PLUGIN
 
 
 --- XXX FIXME: enable inc_sync = on
-for _, inc_sync in ipairs { "off"  } do
+for _, inc_sync in ipairs { "on", "off"  } do
 for _, strategy in helpers.each_strategy() do
 
 describe("CP/DP communication #" .. strategy .. " inc_sync=" .. inc_sync, function()
@@ -624,6 +624,12 @@ describe("CP/DP #version check #" .. strategy, function()
   end)
 end)
 
+-- skips the rest of the tests. We will fix them in a follow-up PR
+if inc_sync == "on" then
+  pending("fix this!")
+  return
+end
+
 describe("CP/DP config sync #" .. strategy, function()
   lazy_setup(function()
     helpers.get_db_utils(strategy) -- runs migrations